Eraser



"TinTTnn sTaTns TATENT orties.

JAMES M. HICKS, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

ERASER.

Specification of L etters Patent No. 32,288, dated May 14, 1861.

To all whom it may concern: Be it known that I, JAMES IVI. Hicks, o Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Erasers; and I do hereby declare that the following, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, that forms part of this specifica` tion, is such a full and clear description as to enable others skilled in such matters to make and use the same.

Though the term eraser might be held to apply to any instrument or implement including pocket knives and so forth, which serve the purpose of exscinding blots or writing made with ink, it is now commonly understood, Vaspertaining to or particularizing a desk implement which has become almost indispensable to the penman. and draftsman and which is distinguishable from a knife as consisting of a moderately long handle with a prismatic or other similarly shaped or solid and non elastic blade at its one end and rigidly attached thereto, also presenting one or two erasing edges, flat or curved surface and sometimes a burnishing face or back, which description will suffice to explain the modern eraser, upon which my invention is an improvement.

In the accompanying drawing Figures 1, 2 and 3, represent a longitudinal face, side view and section of an eraser constructed according to my improvement, and Figs. i and 5 views in perspective of parts of my eraser.

In these figures, (A) designates the handle preferably made of wood, bone, ivory, horn, hard-rubber, or other suitable animal or vegetable material or compound.

(B) is the blade presenting one flat surface and bounded by shelving sides, the edges to which and to the fiat surface form the cutting or erasing edges. This blade may be of uniform thickness and suiiiciently stout to avoid springing. It is or may be inserted in the handle by fitting it crosswise into a notch or slot (c) cut in the end of the handle, without the addition of a shank projecting from it into the handle. Said blade is also further secured to the handle and kept straight and central therein or to, and prevented from turning or getting loose, as it is apt to do when held by a shank projecting into the handle, by extending the handle to form a back (C) tothe blade, which back also serves to support the blade that may accordingly be made thinner without establishing objectionable elasticity. Pins, rivets or dowels (Z) may be used to connect said back (C) with the blade. By such a construction the eraser being lighter, it may be made large Without being cumbersome, manufacture. is facilitated and a cheaper and better article produced. But this is not all. The back (C) to the blade, whether formed by an extension of the handle or made of a separate piece from it, distinct and of different material from the blade but secured to it, forms a pattern or guide whereby to sharpen or polish the blade true to its original shape and position in the handle, which it is difficult to do where a solid blade of steel having no such back piece, is used. Likewise said back (C) when made of wood, bone, ivory, rubber., or other suitable animal or vegetable material,prod uct or compound, forms a better burnishing surface than is attainable fromV one of steel,

laying down the fibers raised by the erasing i blade smoother and closer, and giving a more natural or normal gloss or finish to the paper, as is well understood by those using ordinary erasers which are frequently turned` end over end, in order toburnish with the upper end or portion of the handle, but which end turning is here avoided and the same or better effect produced by only slightly turning the eraser axially. )Vliether this different effect in burnishing is due to the relative harshness of steel and softness of wood, bone, ivory, horn or rubber and so forth, or to certain resinous, gummy or oleaginous qualities of the latter, causing the fibers burnished down to stick as laid and giving a smoothness to without greasing the surface of the paper, it is immaterial here to discuss.

I further provide the eraser, or :it may be further provided, with an india rubber eraser for pencil marks and so forth,which may also serve as a burnisher to lay down the fibers raised by the erasing blade or to give a finishing touch thereto and to remove anysoiled marks produced by the erasing blade, or its back, or otherwise. This I do by furnishing the handle at its upper end with an india rubber cap or projection (D), thus materially adding to the uses of the im plement and combining two devices in one.

Having now described my improvement or improvements on erasers, I claim:

1. Providing the eraser blade with an independent back made of bone, rubber, ivory,

purposes herein set forth.

2. Forming an independent supporting and burnishing` back to the blade by extending the handle which carries the latter, subtially as shown and described.

3. Uniting the blade with the handle by inserting it in a Cross eut or slot in the end of the handle, in combination With riveting or holding` it by pins to the independent back formed extension of the handle, essentially as specified.

4l. The combination with an erasing blade of metal or its equivalent and handle thereto of an indiarubber eraser or burnisher, as herein set forth. l

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification before two subseribing Witnesses. i

JAMES M. HICKS. Witnesses IVM. CLEVELAND HICKS, HOWARD M. IVILLIAMS. 

